Trolley circuit and switch therefor



.1. A. FORSYTH TROLLEY CIRCUITS AND SWITCH THEREFOR Filed Jan. 5, 1924 m W, 9am VMMM,

Patented Jan. 6, 1925.

UNITE JOHN A. FORSYTH, OF NEMACOLIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

TROIiLEY CIRCUIT AND SWITCH THEREFOR.

Application filed January 5, 1924. SeriaINo. 684,517.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. FORsYTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nemacolin, county of Greene, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trolley Circuits and Switches There-for, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improvement in trolley wire circuits and switchesjtherefor, and is more particularly adapted for mines and industrialplants in which the trolley wires are sectionalized.

In mine work, the locomotive operator is required to close the switchbefore passing from the main line to a spur, thus feeding the trolley wire. the locomotive out from the spur to the main track, he opens the switch, thus cutting ofi" the circuit to the spur line.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved-switch for controlling the current to the spur line or lines, as well as a switch in which there is a continuouslive under-run from end to end of the switch or the connectors between the unain trolley wire and the spur trolley wire.

Another object of my invention is to provide a switch of thischaracter, whereby; the spur trolley Wire may be connected either to the main trolley wire or main feeder wire, when the switch is closed, and when the latter connection is made, there may be included in the circuit a circuit breaker, so that the trolley wire leading to a butt entry or the spur receives current from the feeder wire. and permits current to be drawn from the spur line trolley wire through the circuit breaker to drive power mining machinery;

Another object of my invention is to provide a switch of this character-in which the switch can be locked in its open position-When the .circuit'is broken from eitherthe-main trolley wire or the feeder wire,

, sothat the switch cannot be closed'by unauthorized persons.

The precise nature-of my lnvention will be best understood by reference to'theac companying drawings, which will now be described; it-b'eingnpremised, however, that variousi-changes may be made with'out-departingL-fromr the; spirit and scope of m-y As he brings invention as defined in the appended claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side eleva-v tion of a trolley wire support and switch combined therewith, constructed in accord ance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail plan view of one of the switch terminals, together withga portion of a switch blade;.

Figure 4 is an end view, of Figure 3 with a lock in position, lockingthe, blade. in its open position, and,

Figure 5 :is a diagram illustrating the circuits throughthe switch fromboththe main trolley wire and theniain feeder;-

In these drawings the reference charac-r ter 2 designatesra support or a base. mem

ber formed'of insulating material, and. provided with the usual connecting members 3, whereby the structure is supported from overhead wires.

Fixedly connected to the bottom of the base member 2 are two undererun members 4 and 5, which are formed of bronze or other conductingmaterial, and to which are secured the ends of trolley wires 7 and 8 respectively. Connected, to the base 2 are three switch pole members 9, 10 and 111. 12. is a switch blade of the knife type, which is pivotally connected between blade. members of pole 9, by means of a pivot pin :13,

and which switch blade, when-in its closed position as shown in Figures 1 andh2, lies; between blade members of the poles, 9, 10

and 11, so as to close the circuitthrough the three poles. The switch blade 12 is also provided with an operating handle 14:. for opening and closing the switch, Connected to and supported fromrthe under side ofthe switch blade 12 is an: under-run. section 15 which closes the gap between the v ends of theunder-run members 4 and 5, $01 as to form a substantially unbroken run for the trolley wheel 7 from trolley wire 7 to-trolley wire 8' wh'enwthe. switch closed:

The blades of pole 9, are providedlwith; lock hasp receiving openings lti, as. clearly shown in Figures 2, 3 andl l, whichvare.- arranged forthe reception of 'avlock' 1164 to lock the blade-12in its open. position, as clearly illustrated in fullflines ,inFi'gure-3n The under-runs 4 and "5 are provided wire receiving :sockets; 17, and. 18:5, respec=.--

(ill

tively, and are provided with screws for securing the ends of removable connectors thereto.

A removable connector 19 is connected to socket member 17 of under-run at, and to the pole 9 of the switch, and a similar removable connector 20 is connected to the socket 18 of under-run 5 and the pole 11.

In Figure 5 one end of trolley wire 7 connected to under-run a is connected to a main trolley wire 21, while the wire 8 connected to under-run 5 extends over a spur or butt entry track. Connected to pole member 10 of the switch is a wire 22, which is also connected to a main feeder wire 23. Included in the line 22 between the main feeder and pole 10 is a circuit breaker 24.

In the above described diagran'i, with. connector 20 connected to pole 11 and underrun 5,'and connector 19 connected to pole 9, butdisconnected from under-run t, and the switch blade 12 closed, the circuit to the spur line trolley wire will be fed through under-runs 5 and 15 from feed wire 23. while under-run 4t will receive current iron'i the main trolley wire 21 through wire 7. When such a circuit is established, a car can be run over the spur track, receiving current from the main feeder. At the same timethe trolley wire 8 can be connected to mining machinery, and it an overload is passed through the wire, the circuit breaker will be thrown. hen it is desired to feed the spur trolley wire from the main trolley wire, the circuit breaker 2&- can' either be moved to its open position, or the wire 22 can be disconnected from pole 10, and the connector 19 connected to under run 4; and pole 9. lVhen this circuit is established, the spur trolley wire 8, as well as the three under-runs l, 5 and 15, will be in direct connection with the main trolley wire 21 through the wire 7.

It will be understood that all of the conducting elements of the switch will be made of bronze or other suitable conducting material. v

'The advantages of my invention result from the provision of a switch for a trolley wire in which I am enabled to provide a long gap between the two main under-runs, so'as to be assured that there will be no are between the ends of said under arms when the'switch is open, the switch being provided with an under-run adapted to be moved into closed position when the switch is closed, so as .to provide a substantially unbroken run for the trolley wheel from end to end of the device, and arranged that there are no dead points when the switch is closed.

Another advantage of my invention results from the provision of a switch having three poles whereby current for the spur trolley wire may be drawn either from the wire, a removable connection between one ot the under-runs and one of said contacts, a

connection between the other under-run and another of said contacts, a connection between the third contact and the main feed wire, a circuit breaker in the last mentioned connection between the third contact and the main tli'eed wire, and a switch blade for closing the circuit through the three contacts of the switch, substantially as described.

2. A trolley wire system, comprising a main. feed wire, a main trolley wire con nected to a source of current, a spur trolley wire, a switch interposed between the spur trolley wire and the main trolley wire having three contacts, two under-runs associated with the switch, one of the under-runs being connected to the spur trolley wire while the other is connected to the main trolley wire, a removable connection between one of the under-runs and one of said contacts. a connection between the other under-run and another of said contacts, a connection between the third contact and the main feed wire, a circuit breaker in the last mentio czi connection between the third contact and the main feed wire,and a switch blade "for closing the circuit through the three contacts of the switch pivoted to one of the contacts, substantially as described.

3. A trolley wire system, comprising a main teed wire, a main trolley wire connected to a source of current, a spur trolley wire, a switch interposed between the spur trolley wire and the main trolley wire having three contacts, two under-runs associated with the switch, one of the under-runs being connected to the spur trolley wire while the other is connected to the main trolley wire, a removable connection between one of the under-runs and one of said contacts, a connection. between the other under-run and another of said contacts, a connection be tween the third contact switch and the main feed wire, a circuit breaker in the last 1nentioned connection between the third contact and the main feed wire, a switch blade for closing the circuit through the three contacts of the switch,'and an under-run connected to the switch blade arranged to close the gap between the first two under-runs when the switch is closed, substantially as described.

jlli

4.. A trolley section switch having two under-runs arranged to be engaged by a trolley contact and arranged to be connected to trolley wires, said switch having three contacts, a switch blade arranged to close the circuit through the three contacts, a removable connector between one of the contacts and one of the under-runs, a connector between one of the other contacts and the other under-run, and means for connecting a feed wire to the third contact, substantially as described.

5. A trolley section switch having two under-runs arranged to be engaged by a trolley contact, said under-runs being arranged to be connected to trolley wires, said switch having three contacts, a switch blade arranged to close the circuit through the three contacts, removable connectors between two of the contacts and two of the under runs, and an under-run connected to the blade arranged to form a continuation of the other under-runs when the switch blade is in its closed position, substantially as clescribed.

6. A combined trolley wire support and switch having a base of insulating material, means for supporting the base from overhead wires, three switch contacts, a switch blade arranged to be moved into and out of circuit closing relation with said contacts, two under-runs connected to the support, the outer end of each run being arranged to be connected to a trolley wire, a feed connector connected to each under-run and one of the contacts of the switch, one of said connectors being removable, and means for connecting the other contact of the switch to a feed wire, substantially as described.

7. A combined trolley wire support and switch having a base of insulating material, two under-runs carried thereby, there being a gap between said under-runs, switch contacts carried by said base, means detachably connecting each of said contacts to its corresponding under-run, a movable switch blade, and a third under-run movable with the switch blade to close the gap between the first mentioned under-runs when the switch blade is in its closed position, substantially as described.

8. A trolley switch, comprising spaced under-runs, movable means adapted to electrically connect said under-runs, means adapted to break the connection between said movable means and at least one of the under-runs, a third under-run movable with said movable means into and out of the space between said spaced under-runs, a separate current supplying contact adapted to be electrically connected to an independent source of current and adapted to be engaged by said movable means, substantially as described.

9. A trolley switch, comprising a base, spaced under-runs carried thereby, contacts carried by said base and detachably connected to said under-runs, a switch blade adapted to electrically connect said contacts, and a third under-run carried by said switch blade and movable into the space between said spaced under-runs, substantially as described.

10. A trolley switch, comprising a base, a pair of end under-runs carried thereby, a contact adapted to be electrically connected to each of said under-runs, a movable underrun, and means for electrically connecting said movable under-run to an independent source of current, substantially as described.

11. A trolley switch, comprising a base, a pair of under-runs carried thereby, a contact for each of said under-runs, means for connecting each of said contacts to its corresponding under-run, at least one of said connections being detachable, a movable under-run, and means for electrically connecting said movable under-run to an independent source of current when one of said connections has been detached, substantially as described.

12. A trolley switch comprising a plurality of under-runs, a switch contact for each under-run, at least one of said contacts having a detachable connection with its corresponding under-run, means connecting certain of said contacts to different sources of current, and means adapted to simultaneously connect all of said contacts, said means carrying one of the under-runs, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I-have hereunto set my hand.

i JOHN A. FORSYTH. 

